The Washington Nationals came to this beauty of a ballpark to play for the weekend. Fenway Park is one of the oldest ballparks around.

The only time National League teams face off against American League teams is during the World Series, and for a few weekends a season. Yes folks, this weekend is interleague play. Interleague play is a slightly different baseball. If the American team is at home, the National League team gets to use a Designated Hitter (DH), where they usually have to bat with their pitchers. If the National League team is at home, the American League team's pitchers are forced to bat, something that is pretty much completely unknown to most American League pitchers. This would benefit National League teams during interleague play, while it's a small disadvantage to American Leaguers. I don't see why all of the Major League teams don't have a DH, but whatever.

Pitchers have to bat in the National League. Wow, American League pitchers must have it made...

Another way interleague play affects players and teams from the National and American League teams is the stadiums. For example, the Washington Nationals played the Boston Red Sox at Boston's legendary field, Fenway Park. They are not used to the ballpark, but at the same time, it is rather exciting for the Nationals to be playing at this legendary ballpark. Nationals left fielder Michael Morse said he could "cross it off his bucket list" to play at Fenway Park. The Nationals swept the Red Sox, winning all three games of the series at Fenway Park. The New York Mets got to play at the new Yankee Stadium. The Tampa Bay Rays played at the Miami Marlins' new stadium. The Philadelphia Phillies played at Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. The list goes on and on.

Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles

I think interleague play is a great thing that allows teams to play against teams they usually don't play, and to travel to new ballparks and such. Great for the players, great for the fans!